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Diagnosis & Treatment

Diagnosing & Treating Pelvic Health Disorders

At the University of Chicago Medicine Center for Pelvic Health, we are dedicated to helping women and men with pelvic health disorders overcome the physical, emotional and social issues that accompany these common conditions. That's why we've assembled a team of subspecialists with a depth of knowledge and experience that cannot be matched by many other hospitals. A number of our physicians are nationally recognized for their expertise in pelvic health disorders. Our specialists collaborate to accurately and effectively diagnose and treat your pelvic health problem.

As a major academic medical center, our physician-scientists are on top of the most advanced therapies and procedures. It is their goal to consistently learn more about how to best treat these disorders through their research and interactions with peers around the world. Yet the most important member of our team is you. We strive to provide patients with a comprehensive diagnosis and treatment plan that addresses what is most important to you, taking into account your medical, emotional and social needs.

Patients who come to UChicago Medicine's Center for Pelvic Health benefit from one of the most experienced imaging teams in the country. Physicians and hospitals from around the region send their pelvic floor patients here for advanced radiologic testing.

Some of our services include:

Computed tomography of the pelvis, which uses X-rays to create cross-sections of the body

Cystoscopy, a procedure to look inside the bladder using a tiny camera

Urodynamics, a series of tests to provide information about the function of bladder and urinary muscles

Ultrasound, which uses sound waves to view the anatomy in the pelvis or anus

Many pelvic floor disorders can be treated successfully without surgery. For this reason, strategies such as behavior changes, physical therapy and medication are often the first approach for many patients.

Our Center for Pelvic Health offers convenient access to physical therapy and biofeedback at the UChicago Medicine campus in Hyde Park and at seven other sites around the Chicago area and in Northwest Indiana.

Our treatment team includes experienced surgeons who routinely perform minimally invasive procedures that spare patients large incisions, unnecessary pain and longer recovery times. Many of the procedures used to treat pelvic floor disorders can be performed using these sophisticated approaches, including transvaginal procedures and laparoscopic techniques. During delicate surgeries such as pelvic floor repairs, our surgical team uses a robotic system that allows them to see the patients’ anatomy more easily. More importantly, patients who have robotic surgery have less blood loss, fewer complications and a quicker recovery.

At the Center for Pelvic Health, our surgeons can perform the most complex prolapse surgeries, even on patients who have had previous surgery. We routinely treat patients with recurrent prolapse or incontinence who have not found solutions elsewhere.

Our high-volume center also draws expertise from one of the top urology practices in the country. In addition to treating women, our urology team can help men who may suffer from incontinence related to treatment for prostate, bladder or kidney cancer.

Our team draws from a nationally recognized gynecology team that was one of the first in Chicago to perform minimally invasive robotic surgery for the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse and genitourinary fistula. This team is also the first in the region to utilize single-site robotic surgery for hysterectomy and sacrocolpopexy, minimizing the number of incisions needed during surgery.

Our nationally recognized gastroenterology and colorectal surgery team, has a longstanding reputation for their treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Some IBD patients require pelvic floor testing to determine the best treatment approach. In addition, these colorectal surgeons have performed more than 1,000 surgeries on patients with a range of digestive and pelvic floor conditions.

For women who require complex reconstructive procedures to the pelvis, our team includes plastic and reconstructive surgeons who are skilled at rebuilding tissues using advanced surgical techniques that promote wound healing. This can help patients who have congenital abnormalities of the genitourinary tract or who have significant scarring because of previous surgery or radiation treatment. Our plastic and reconstructive team is also on hand to help women who are interested in pursuing a cosmetic treatment, such as a tummy tuck, at the time of their surgery.

When symptoms fail to improve with nonsurgical treatment, our experienced surgeons can often improve symptoms with surgery. Some of these procedures can be performed using minimally invasive techniques. For instance, during delicate surgeries like pelvic floor repairs, our surgical team can use vaginal approaches or a robotic laparoscopic system that allows them to see the patients’ anatomy more easily and operate with more precision. The benefits of minimally invasive surgery include:

Less pain

Less injury to tissue

Minimal scarring

Less blood loss

Faster return to normal activities

In fact, many patients who have these less invasive procedures can go home the same day.

Some of the surgical treatments available include:

Urethral bulking, which involves injections to reduce urine leakage

Anal bulking, which uses injections to reduce fecal leakage

Robotic, laparoscopic and transvaginal pelvic floor repair, which restores the anatomy in people with pelvic organ prolapse

Midurethral slings, which are small mesh slings placed under the urethra to help prevent stress incontinence in women and men

An artificial sphincter, an implanted device that keeps the urethra closed until men are able to urinate

Why Choose UChicago Medicine for Pelvic Health Care

Extensive Surgical Experience

Our treatment team includes experienced surgeons who routinely perform minimally invasive procedures that spare patients large incisions, unnecessary pain and longer recovery times. Many of the procedures used to treat pelvic floor disorders can be performed using these sophisticated approaches, including transvaginal procedures and laparoscopic techniques.

At the Center for Pelvic Health, our surgeons can perform the most complex prolapse surgeries, even on patients who have had previous surgery. We routinely treat patients with recurrent prolapse or incontinence who have not found solutions elsewhere. Our high-volume center also draws expertise from one of the top urology practices in the country. In addition to treating women, our urology team can help men who may suffer from incontinence related to treatment for prostate, bladder or kidney cancer.

What We Treat

Interdisciplinary, Holistic Care

Our team, which includes a depth of subspecialists not found at most hospitals, strives to provide patients with a holistic treatment plan that takes into account their medical, emotional and social needs. Our sensitive, caring professionals are committed to helping you achieve a better quality of life, based on your particular preferences.

Our specialists work as a multidisciplinary team to discuss patients’ treatment plans and review test results. This allows us to make sure patients receive the proper follow-up to complete their treatment plan, which provides the best outcomes for the patient.

Learn More About Our Care

Expert Imaging

Patients who come to UChicago Medicine's Center for Pelvic Health benefit from one of the most experienced imaging teams in the country. Physicians and hospitals from around the region send their pelvic floor patients to UChicago Medicine for advanced radiologic testing.